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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Here's my first go around at writing a roller derby bout recap. I've passed this along to Gigi RaMoan, Mia Pyscho and ProseHack for their input but wanted to get something out on the net about the Bradentucky Bombers' July 19 victory. Congrats, ladies!

Enjoy!

~ Yankee Tripper

Summer Slam Jam was an opportunity for the visiting Fort Myers Palm City Punishers to redeem themselves after the Bradentucky Bombers defeated them 95 to 74 on their home rink during the June 28 Shove Her Solstice. While Fort Myers utilized the three weeks leading up to the bout for training, Coach Bryan Wilkes and his Bombers were doing the same and added not one but two secret weapons into Bradentucky’s arsenal, Poison Apple and Nikki Strick-9, both returning from maternity leave. These two roller derby girls combined with the team’s talented skaters resulted in a 150 to 80 Bradentucky Bombers victory during the Bombers’ last bout of the season at Bradenton’s Florida Wheels Skate Center on Sunday, July 19.

The first lap of the first jam was an indication on how the bout would end when the Bradentucky Bombers acted as proper hosts and kindly introduced the visiting Palm City Punishers to the track with blow after blow. The Bombers were in sync and getting the party started with the first jam Busty Bruiser whipped Signal 20 ahead of the pack into lead jammer status to capture 8 points compared to 4 the Punishers earned. From the Bomber’s perspective, speed and defensive blocking were the names of the game. Sixteen more jams later to the end of the first half, the home team roller derby girls were up 92 to 40.

The second half’s first jam set the pace for the rest of the bout and for the Punishers, it sure wasn’t pretty. The Bombers were up by two skaters because Heinz and the Ft. Myers jammer started in the penalty box. Heinz was serving time for hitting Bradentucky’s Kimical Warfare into a penalty box chair and into the rink’s back wall during the last jam of the first half. Without missing a step, Kimical quickly sucked it up and returned to the rink.

Signal 20 earned 5 points for the Bombers during the second half’s first jam which ignited a Ft. Myers mini-rally in the second jam when Jamsterella was lead jammer and racked up 4 points. This didn’t please the Bombers and from that point, the Bombers and particularly Julia Siezeher, Poison Apple and Snow Wipe U Out executed consistent hard-hitting blows on Ft. Myers skaters that were felt by spectators. Many jams left the Punishers scoreless thanks to the Bradentucky defensive wall.

Both teams competed with fierce determination but Bradentucky Bombers’ experience and fan support gave the home team an advantage. The Ft. Myers Best Blocker Award was given to Heinz 57 and Best Jammer to Lil’ Miss Slam Bags. The Bradentucky Bombers Best Blocker Award was presented to Poison Apple and Best Jammer to Signal 20.

The Nuclear Bombshells will take on the Gainesville on Sunday, Aug. 23, at Florida Wheels Skate Center. Visit www.bradentuckybombers.org for additional information.

Highlights of the First Half:

Just shy of 45 seconds into the second jam, Yakuza Girl quickly captured lead jammer status and scored 8 points for the Bombers;

It was as if Ten Acious-C- was wearing an invisibility cloak during the 4th jam because this little powerhouse jammer skated to lead status without any of the Punishers noticing, meanwhile Te Kill Ya Sunshine was welcomed to Bradentucky in Bomber-style with a little love tap into the center rink and into Bomber’s referee Viki Van Go;

The sixth jam belonged to Signal 20 since Klymaxxx was in the penalty box for 20 seconds due to bad behavior during the previous run yet, when she returned to the game, Bradentucky was in full jammer-hater mode and prevented her from scoring;

During the eighth jam, Mission Mary Position slowed Ft. Myers down with a powerful hit knocking a knee pad protector off an opponent while Gigi RaMoan demonstrated her cat-like agility and evaded a hit from the Punishers’ Flyin’ Da Brie who ended up gliding off the track;

Ft. Myers tried to derail M.F. On Wheels but she pushed and breezed through the pack making the sport look oh so easy during the 10th jam;

Highlights of the Second Half:

Making jamming look easy with her long strides, Gigi RaMoan surpassed the century mark in points for Bradentucky as she captured 4 points as lead jammer during the third jam (102/46);

Jamsterella was the sole jammer with M.F. On Wheels serving almost half the jam time in the penalty box for an infraction. With Poison Apple leading the blocking, Jamsterella never broke through the pack and the sixth jam was scoreless;

The eighth jam started with Snow Wipe U Out followed by Nikki Strick-9 in the penalty box and Ft. Myers was handed a power jam but didn’t know what to do with it. Gigi RaMoan fought her way through the pack and despite being bounced around like a pinball, Ft. Myers couldn’t stop her and she captured 8 points for Bradentucky;

Ten Acious – C- earned her lead jammer status with low blocking moves and prevented Ft. Myers jammer Kannibal Kate from earning it. In tag-team effort, Heartbreaker Hilton proved she was a jammer-hater and knocked the Ft. Myers jammer down. Ten Acious –C- was sent to the penalty box and Ester Gin N’ Juice showed Kannibal Kate the track belonged to Bradentucky during the ninth jam;

The 10th jam didn’t look good for Bradentucky with Nikki Strick-9, Heartbreaker Hilton and Ten Acious –C- all sitting in the penalty box. Jamsterella was the lead jammer but the Bombers returned by one back into defensive play. Snow Wipe U Out’s love tap sent Flyin’ Da Brie into the Ft. Myers’s bench and Busty Bruiser slowed Jamsterella to hold her to 8 points during a Punishers power jam.

Signal 20 began jam 12 in the penalty box which should have made it easy for Heinz to gain lead jammer status but Heartbreaker Hilton and Ten Acious –C- were on the track who took care of hitting and slowing the 57 sauce down. With 50 seconds left into the jam and Heinz still unable to break the pack, Signal 20 was dismissed from the penalty box and with what seemed as if it was with the greatest ease, she skated right into the lead jammer status.

Gigi RaMoan and Kannibal Kate battled for lead jammer status during the 13th jam. Snow Wipe U Out and Signal 20 orchestrated a series of beautiful hits on the Punishers’ jammer while Gigi skated to lead status;

Mission Mary Position made the night’s debut as the Bradentucky jammer during the 14th jam and although Jamsterella captured lead jammer status, Nikki Strick-9 cleared the way for Mary to advance through the pack and capture 4 points for the team;

M.F. On Wheels won the race for lead jammer in the 15th jam thanks to Poison Apple and Heartbreaker Hilton diligently playing their jammer-hater roles against Lil’ Miss Slam Bags;

With 30 seconds left in the game, the 17th jam set in motion with Yakuza Girl and Klymaxxx battling for the lead star position of the night. Ft. Myers threw blocks and hits in attempts to throw her out of the track, Yakuza displayed her amazing balancing and skating skills as she skated on one skate in order to stay within track boundaries and capture the last 2 points of the night.

Between jams 7 and 8 of the second half, Ft. Myers called a time out and the dance bug bit most of the skaters when “That’s Not My Name” by the Ting Tings infused the air. Even Coach Wilkes was infected with the groove bug and shimmied his hips with moves most haven’t seen.

Before the Bombers skated in their last bout of the season, roller derby fans kicked back cold ones during a lively tailgating party in the rink’s parking lot compliments of Bradenton’s The Distillery Tavern. Prior to the game’s 6 p.m. start, Nomads of the Nook infused the rink with its mix of avant-garde meets funk music.